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Various male R&B groups of the ’90s birthed many babies and boombox bops that are living-proof today.
If Guy didn’t have our mamas and aunties screaming “Let’s Chill,” H-Town certainly had them “Knockin’ da Boots.” Heartthrobs like Jodeci made them wonder what it would feel like to be forever their ladies, while Silk’s line for the meeting in their bedroom lengthened with every concert.
Mint Condition had already given them the confidence they needed as they embraced their “Pretty Brown Eyes,” but Dru Hill reminded them that “Beauty” was their name.
As Generation X would say, “They don’t make them like that anymore.”
Fortunately for them, many of those men still dominate mainstream music in the 2020s. But… what about those male R&B groups of the ’90s who aren’t in the spotlight as much in 2024?
Let’s briefly revisit these blasts from the past.
Male R&B Groups of the ’90s You Probably Wonder About Today — Where Are They Now?
1. Hi-Five
Hailing from Waco, Texas, R&B quintet Hi-Five was most known for their classics “I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)” (from their eponymous breakout endeavor in 1990), “She’s Playing Hard to Get” (from their platinum-selling 1992 album Keep It Goin’ On), and “Unconditional Love” (from their 1993 full-length Faithful).
Hi-Five was initially formed in 1989 as a trio, which included childhood friends Tony Thompson, Russell Neal, and Toriano Easley. The group later added Roderick “Pooh” Clark, Marcus Sanders, and Treston Irby (who ultimately replaced Easley after a run-in with the law) at the request of Jive Records. As they progressed, Neal departed due to money matters with their overhead, and a car accident left Clark paralyzed and unable to continue with the group.
Because of this, Jive added Shannon Gill and Terrence Murphy to fill their absence. Unfortunately, they split in the mid-1990s. Late lead singer, Tony Thompson, then unethically attempted to rebrand the collective with new members in 2005. However, Thompson died in 2007 from toxic inhalation of chlorodifluoromethane and freon. Seven years later, in 2014, Neal was arrested for stabbing his then-wife to death. Clark passed in 2022 from pneumonia.
After a brief tenure with newcomer Andre Ramseur upon their comeback in 2012, Irby, Sanders, and Gill carried on with Faruq Evans and Billy Covington. The group is still performing and is currently on tour.
2. Shai
Shai’s first single, “If I Ever Fall in Love,” catapulted them to mainstream attention when it hit the market in 1992. The uber-successful song led the tracklist of their MCA Records-distributed album of the same title and reached #1 on the Billboard R&B Chart. Their second single “Comforter” went gold in 1993.
The quartet started at Howard University after winning a college talent show. Alpha Phi Alpha members Marc Gay, Carl Martin, and Darnell Van Rensalier enlisted Garfield Bright to join their up-and-coming trio before pursuing a career as a rising foursome.
According to reports, Martin was eventually replaced by Erik Willis, who joined them for the recording of their 2004 effort Back from the Mystery System: The Love Cycle. Years later, Shai brought Dwayne Jones and George Spencer III to the lineup, who have appeared to be performing alongside Rensalier and Bright since.
2018 saw the coming of their project Musically Yours. In 2023, the group unveiled a bop called “Levitate” (from their recently promoted Already on the R&B Remix album) and has been on the road most of 2024.
3. Color Me Badd
Platinum R&B group Color Me Badd came into formation in the 1980s. They are esteemed for their 1991 tunes “I Wanna Sex You Up,” “I Adore Mi Amor,” and “All 4 Love” (from their introductory album C.M.B.). “I Wanna Sex You Up” is famous for being a part of the official soundtrack for the Mario Van Peebles-directed film New Jack City.
Reportedly, original members Kevin “K.T.” Thornton, Bryan Abrams, Sam Watters, and Mark Calderon met in high school in Oklahoma City. After being in the school choir, the fellas launched Color Me Badd in 1985 and began competing in talent shows.
By 1989, they’d relocated to New York City. Giant Records signed Color Me Badd a year later, in 1990, before premiering their first work under the imprint. After three albums and a victorious run in the then-evolving industry, Color Me Badd moved to Epic Records and released their fourth full-length, Awakening, in 1998.
Thornton left to pursue ministry, and Watters chased his dreams of writing/producing, prompting the men to go their separate ways. Since then, there’s been much back-and-forth and many changes. Upon re-emerging in 2010, Thornton briefly rejoined twice and dropped new music with Calderon and Abrams but called it quits in 2015. Abrams exited two years prior, with Martin Kember replacing, but reunited that same year. By 2016, Calderon and Abrams presented themselves as a trio with newbie Adam Emil until Abrams found himself in legal trouble in 2020.
Mark Calderon, Kris “$iyaStylz” Campbell, and Erick “Elon” Footman now comprise Color Me Badd.
4. Public Announcement
Public Announcement rose to prominence with R. Kelly in the 1990s. The R&B icon and the guys debuted a collaboration album, Born into the 90’s, in 1992, which instantly topped the charts. They were popularized for “Honey Love,” “Dedicated,” and “Slow Dance (Hey Mr. DJ).” Born into the 90’s garnered so much buzz that it went platinum only six months after its release.
Public Announcement originally consisted of Earl Robinson, Andre Boykins, and Ricky Webster and was signed to Jive Records through Kelly in 1990. The “It Seems Like You’re Ready” phenomenon reportedly left the group in 1993. Following Kelly’s exit, their first album without the heavy-hitter, All Work, No Play, came out in 1998, which flaunted their timeless track “Body Bumpin’ (Yippie-Yi-Yo). Their follow-up work, Don’t Hold Back, spawned the hit “Mamacita” in 2000 before 2006’s When the Smoke Clears.
Although they’ve undergone numerous member changes, the Chicago-based group has since rebranded with lead Feloney Davis (1996-present), Ace Watkins (1999-present), and Marlon Kanndler. Per their Facebook page, not too long ago, Public Announcement dropped their new single, “Let It Go Girl.”
5. Soul for Real
Soul for Real is made up of the Dalyrimple brothers: Christopher (“Choc”), Andre (“Dre” or “KD”), Brian (“Bri”), and Jason (“Jase”). The siblings, who are from Wyandanch, New York, gained worldwide recognition for their songs “Candy Rain” (1994) and “Every Little Thing I Do” (1995) from their debut album, Candy Rain.
The group came together in 1992 and signed with Uptown Records. Their title track was produced by the late, great rapper/producer Heavy D and grabbed the #1 pot on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Since their breakout with Upton, they’ve unleashed two more projects: For Life (1996) and Heat (1999).
It seems that Soul for Real has consistently stayed in the limelight throughout the years. Despite Brian’s 145-count indictment on fraud charges in 2009 (and each of their simultaneous solo careers), they’ve never strayed too far away from where it all started and have continued to release music together.
In early August 2024, they took the stage during 50 Cent’s Humor & Harmony Weekend in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Which of these male R&B groups of the ’90s do you remember? Share below!
